Muldoon back to captain Connacht
Captain John Muldoon makes his much anticipated return to Connacht colours away to I Cavaleiri Estra in Round One of their Amlin Challenge Cup campaign in Italy on Saturday afternoon.
St Marys prop Rob Sweeney makes his debut on the starting XV as does scrum half Cillian Willis and wing Darragh Fanning. All three have featured in Connacht’s opening salvo of Magners League matches as impact replacements and have been rewarded for their efforts.
Galway natives Johnny O’Connor, Andrew Browne and John Muldoon are included in the strong lineup as Connacht look to replicate last year’s unbeaten pool run.
CONNACHT (v I Cavalieri Estra):
Troy Nathan; Darragh Fanning, Niva Ta-auso, Miah Nikora, Fionn Carr; Ian Keatley, Cillian Willis; Brett Wilkinson, Adrian Flavin, Rob Sweeney, Michael Swift, Bernie Upton, Andrew Browne, Johnny O’Connor, John Muldoon (Capt).
Replacements: Dermot Murphy, Barry Fa’amausili, Ronan Loughney, Mike McComish, Michael McCarthy, Frank Murphy, Aidan Wynne, Shane Monahan.
